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Second Degree

How dangerous are heat and humidity?

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Second Degree

How dangerous are heat and humidity?

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How dangerous are heat and humidity? A hot day can feel uncomfortable. But if there’s enough humidity in the air, a hot day can be deadly. The head index describes the "feels like" temperature that combines air temperature and humidity.

In this lesson, students use polynomial functions to explore the heat index and discuss the life-and-death consequences that cities around the world will face in the coming years.

REAL WORLD TAKEAWAYS

  • The heat index describes how hot it feels and is a function of temperature and relative humidity.
  • In very hot temperatures, an increase in relative humidity raises the heat index more than it would at moderate temps.
  • When the heat index reaches high levels, it is dangerous for humans to go outside. Heat indexes are expected to reach dangerous levels in various places over the next century.

MATH OBJECTIVES

  • Evaluate and simplify polynomial expressions
  • Graph and compare quadratic equations, and interpret those graphs in a real-world context

Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.
Algebra 2
Polynomial Functions
Algebra 2
Polynomial Functions
Content Standards A.APR.1 Understand that polynomials form a system analogous to the integers, namely, they are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication; add, subtract, and multiply polynomials. F.IF.4 For a function that models a relationship between two quantities, interpret key features of graphs and tables in terms of the quantities, and sketch graphs showing key features given a verbal description of the relationship. Key features include: intercepts; intervals where the function is increasing, decreasing, positive, or negative; relative maximums and minimums; symmetries; end behavior; and periodicity. F.IF.7 Graph functions expressed symbolically and show key features of the graph, by hand in simple cases and using technology for more complicated cases. (a) Graph linear and quadratic functions and show intercepts, maxima, and minima. (b) Graph square root, cube root, and piecewise-defined functions, including step functions and absolute value functions. (c) Graph polynomial functions, identifying zeros when suitable factorizations are available, and showing end behavior. (d) (+) Graph rational functions, identifying zeros and asymptotes when suitable factorizations are available, and showing end behavior. (e) Graph exponential and logarithmic functions, showing intercepts and end behavior, and trigonometric functions, showing period, midline, and amplitude.
Mathematical Practices MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively. MP.4 Model with mathematics. MP.6 Attend to precision. MP.7 Look for and make use of structure.

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